Tuesday, November 28, 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 26 NOV 2017

1.PRESIDENT OF INDIA INAUGURATES INTERNATIONAL GITA MAHOTSAVA-2017
IN HARYANA

i. President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the International Gita
Mahotsava-2017 in Kurukshetra, Haryana. Gita Mahotsava-2017 will conclude on
December 3, 2017.

ii. Mauritius is the partner country and Uttar Pradesh is the
partner state for this event. About 20 lakh people participated in Gita
Mahotsav last year, which also included people from 35 countries.

iii. This year, about 25-30 lakh people are expected to
participate in this event till December 3, 2017. President Ram Nath Kovind,
also participated in Gita Yajna and Gita Poojan ceremonies at Brahma Sarovar and
inaugurated an international seminar on Gita at the Kurukshetra University
campus.

2.PRESIDENT RAM NATH KOVIND INAUGURATES TWO-DAY CONFERENCE ON
NATIONAL LAW DAY IN NEW DELHI

i. President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the 2-day conference on
National Law Day in New Delhi. This conference is organised by the Law
Commission and the Niti Aayog to mark the National Law Day. The National Law
Day is celebrated on November 26, the day on which the Constitution of India
was adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1949.

ii. There will be four sessions on relevant issues concerning
India’s judicial system. These include ‘judicial review and parliamentary
democracy – balancing the separation of power’ and ‘appointments to higher
judiciary – constraints of collegium system and reforms ahead’.

iii. There will also be sessions on themes like ‘structural
reforms for overcoming delays in justice delivery’ and ‘scope of judicial
powers, judicial activism’. PM Narendra Modi will deliver the valedictory
address at the end of 2-day of the conference.

3.GLOBAL UNIVERSITY EMPLOYABILITY RANKING 2017 – IISC RANKS 29TH
IN THE WORLD

i. Indian Institute of Science has ranked 29th among the top 150
universities on Global University Employability Ranking 2017 published by Times
Higher Education.

ii. This ranking has been designed by HR consultancy emerging, is
conducted by research institute Trendence and published by Times Higher
Education. Global University Employability Ranking 2017 – Top 10: California
Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Columbia University, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, Myanmar, Bangladesh sign deal
for return of Rohingya Muslims.

4.U.S., SOUTH KOREA TO HOLD JOINT AIR FORCE DRILL “VIGILANT ACE”

i. The air forces of South Korea and the United States will hold
‘Vigilant Ace’ a joint drill from 4th – 8th December, 2017. ‘Vigilant Ace’
between air forces of United States and South Korea is held at periodic
intervals to simulate wartime defenses.

ii. Nearly 12000 U.S. personnel, including U.S. Marine Corps and
Navy troops will participate in the upcoming edition of ‘Vigilant Ace’ along
with South Korean troops. 230 aircrafts including F-22 stealth fighters will be
flown at eight U.S. and South Korean military installations.

iii. The objective of this drill is to enhance interoperability
between U.S. and South Korean forces and increase the combat effectiveness of
air forces of both nations. This drill will be held in the backdrop of North
Korea’s threats to develop and deploy nuclear missiles.

i. Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development
Council reviewed major global and domestic developments which could have a
bearing on India’s financial stability.

ii. Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development
Council is headed by incumbent RBI Governor, Urjit Patel. Recommendations of
the committees on FinTech and digital innovations, Stewardship Code and
recommendations of shadow banking implementation group were also discussed at
the meeting.

6.JM FINANCIAL GETS NHB NOD FOR HOME FINANCE ARM

i. Financial services firm, JM Financial has received certificate
of registration from the National Housing Bank for carrying out housing finance
activities through its subsidiary JM Financial Home Loans.

i. Rating agency Standard & Poor’s kept its sovereign rating
for India unchanged at ‘BBB-‘, with outlook for the nation as ‘stable’. BBB-
rating is the lowest investment grade and just one notch above junk status.

ii. S&P stated that India’s sizable fiscal deficit, low per
capita income and high government debt do not warrant a sovereign rating
upgrade as of now. However, it praised the recent reforms undertaken by Indian
Government and expects Indian economy to grow strongly during 2018-2020.

8.INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
– NOVEMBER 25

i. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against
Women was observed all over the world. The theme for International Day for the
Elimination of Violence against Women 2017 is ‘Leave no one behind: end violence
against women and girls’.

ii. The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25
as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The
objective of the day is to raise awareness of the fact that women around the world
are subject to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence etc. One of
the aims of the day is to highlight that, the scale and true nature of the
issue is often hidden.

9.RITU PHOGAT WINS SILVER IN U-23 SENIOR WORLD WRESTLING
CHAMPIONSHIP

i. Ritu Phogat has clinched the silver medal in Under-23 Senior
World Wrestling Championship at Poland. The 23-year-old, lost against Turkish
Wrestler Demirhan in the gold medal bout of women's 48 kilogram category.